L.Opdyke French Aeroplanes Before the Great War (Schiffer)

Deleted by request of (c)Schiffer Publishing

Balassian de Manawas

At the Concours de Securite of 1914, the monoplane designed by Balassian de Manawas was one of the curiosities. Thinking to improve the stability of his machine, especially in the case of engine failure, he arranged the wings of his "avion planeur" to be attached to the fuselage with springs so as to vary the position of the center of lift: the wings could move fore and aft automatically or under pilot control - as he claimed it occurred with gliding birds. The fuselage consisted only of 2 spars with a fabric seat slung between them; the large tank mounted on the same spars behind the motor provided little protection against the wind, but completely blocked forward vision. The springing of the undercarriage was unique: each wheel was set into a horizontal frame pivoting on the steel tube axle, the wheels forward and below the axle, with a long horn extending backward from each frame, the end hung from 2 heavy shock cords attached to the underside of the fuselage. Damaged during the qualification tests, it did not participate in the contest.

Balassian de Manawas' entry for the Concours de Securite of 1914. As described in the text, the wings moved in various directions. Note the ingenious springing of the undercarriage wheels. A handsome photograph of the 50 hp Gnome and the Integrale propeller.